Komodo National Park lies in the Wallacea Region of Indonesia, identified by WWF and Conservation International as a global conservation priority area, and is located in the center of the Indonesian archipelago, between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores.

Komodo National Park includes three major islands: Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller islands creating a total surface area (marine and land) of more than 1,800 km2. As well as being home to the Komodo Dragon, also known as the Komodo Monitor, or Ora (to Indonesians), the park provides refuge for many other notable terrestrial species. Moreover, the Park includes one of the richest marine environments.

Paket Wisata Pulau Komodo National Park was established in 1980 and was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1986, both indications of the Park's biological importance.

The park was initially established to conserve the unique Komodo Dragon and its habitat, first discovered in 1910. Since then conservation goals have expanded to protecting its entire biodiversity, both marine and terrestrial.

The majority of the people in and around the Park are fishermen originally from Bima on the island of Sumbawa, and from Manggarai, South Flores, and South Sulawesi. Those from South Sulawesi were originally nomadic and moved from location to location in the region of Sulawesi to make their livelihoods.

Descendants of the original people of Komodo still live in Komodo, but there are no pure blood people left and their culture and language is slowly being integrated with the recent migrants.

Little is known of the early history of the Komodo islanders. They were subjects of the Sultanate of Bima, although the island’s remoteness from Bima meant its affairs were probably little troubled by the Sultanate other than by occasional demand for tribute.

The number of terrestrial animal species found in the Park is not high, but the area is important from a conservation perspective as some species are endemic. Many of the mammals are Asiatic in origin. Several of the reptiles and birds are Australian in origin. These include the orange-footed scrubfowl, the lesser sulpher-crested cockatoo and the nosy friarbird.

The most famous of Komodo National Park's animals is the Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis). It is the world's largest living lizard and can reach 3 metres or more in length and weigh over 70kg.

Also beware of the snakes inhabiting the island, including the cobra and Russel’s pit viper, both of which are extremely dangerous.

As far as the marine fauna is concerned, Komodo National Park includes one of the world's richest marine environments. It consists of over 260 species of reef building coral, 70 different species of sponges, crustaceans, cartilaginous (incl. manta ray and sharks) and over a 1,000 different species of bony fishes (over 1,000 species), as well as marine reptiles (incl. sea turtles), and marine mammals (dolphins, whales, and dugongs).

The ferry service (to and from the cities of Sape, on the eastern tip of Sumbawa, and Labuanbajo, on Flores) drops off passengers on Komodo once or twice every week. There is no port on the island, so passengers are unloaded onto small vessels which take them into the island's only village. (Note that not all departures have this service -- check beforehand.) As of June 2019 this service seemed to be ceased. The ferries are sailing now straight to Labuanbajo from Sape without the southern detour to Komodo Island itself (If anybody has other information, and this service might be resume, please feel free to give updates here).

There are local supply boats from Labuanbajo to Komodo Island for about 65k IDR (depending on negotiation), which start regularly early in the morning and take about 4 hours to get to the island. An overnight stay on the island is compulsory for the return trip.

Bima, a short drive from Sape, has an airstrip with flights to Denpasar.

Travelers coming in from Sape to the west (those traveling overland through Sumbawa and also those arriving at Bima airport) should note that the once-daily ferries from Sape can be suspended indefinitely due to bad weather, so if you want to be sure of your travel arrangements, flying with regular flight Sky Aviation to Labuanbajo from Denpasar is a much safer bet, so we don't need to charter flight anymore as before. (If you get stranded at Sape, the best Bima airport will be able to offer is a flight back to Denpasar on Bali.)

Perama Tour, [1]. The Hunting Komodo by Camera trip leaves every six days from Lombok. The route is not really on open water because it travels along the coastal line and most importantly it has navigation and safety equipment. Stops are made along the way in Labuanbajo and Komodo. The cruise is known for poor standards and wrecked in the middle of the night in March 2011, endangering all on board.Price for a cabin is around Rp.4,000,000 deck class is Rp.3,000,000 where you get to sleep with a thin carpet. edit

LTA Tour Lombok, Jl. Raya Senggigi Km. 12 Senggigi Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, ☎+62 370 693860 ([email protected], fax: +62 370 693672), [2]. 09.00 AM - 10.00 PM. Komodo Trips organizer with professionally staff under the management of an experienced operator using their own local team or in direct association with a local operator. All teams work to prescribed standards including; direct first hand experience at the destination, respect for the environment, social and cultural sensitivities and strict labour policies and licensed travel agent .edit

You need to buy the appropriate fees and permits at one of the park headquarters when you arrive. They are valid for one day and can be used at both parks. For foreign visitors, these are as follows (as of July 2015):

Depending on the time you have available, one or more guided tours on the islands of Rinca and Komodo itself.
Please note that it is neither permitted nor advisable to do any tours without local guides, as the Komodo Dragons are dangerous when they attack.

This area is inhabited by more than a thousand different fish species, making it one of the world’s richest marine habitats. You may also swim in the Flores Sea on your incoming or outgoing boat trip to one of the islands. Beware of sharp corals on the sea floor near some of the small islands.

Komodo National Park offers divers (and snorkelers) an overwhelming variety of marine life. As part of the “coral triangle” this is the richest concentration of marine life in the world. The diversity of dive sites is almost unparalleled with warm, gentle reefs with hundreds of species of colorful fish and corals to the crazed excitement of sea mounts with huge currents and massive pelagics like Manta Rays and Sharks.

Pygmy seahorse. This dive area is many divers favorite place in Indonesia and they come back nearly every year to Komodo liveaboard trips – but their secret is slowly getting out! In one place there is almost everything your heart wishes for. Large sharks, manta rays and tunas to colorful nudibranchs, special shrimps, frogfishes and also just the incredible colorful reefs.edit

Komodo Liveaboards (Komodo Liveaboards), [4]. Komodo Dive Liveaboards (Rinca Islands Liveaboard) cruise gives divers the ability to explore some of the most pristine and diverse marine habitats on the planet, while living right on the Komodo Liveaboard diving boat.edit

Komodo Kayaking ([email protected]), Eco-Lodge hotel, ☎+628175730415, [5]. Many of the islands in the chain are either inaccessible to large boats or difficult to access. However with a sea kayak, you can travel anywhere you like. Into small grottos and bays, around rocky points and slowly above shallow reefs brimming with fish.edit

Sea Kayaking and SUP'ing Komodo Islands ([email protected]), Komodo Islands, ☎+61395988581, [6]. There are dozens of uninhabited islands within and just outside the Komodo National Park. Many of these are only accessible by unmotorised vessels such as sea kayaks and SUP's. These trips are the only full supported expeditions in the park using proper expedition style sea kayaks, not sit on tops. This agency uses these sit in kayaks as the seas can get turn from tranquil to treacherous quite quickly, and a proper sea kayak is the only vessel that can handle it safely.They also have a 20-meter support boat. People taking this trip sleep on isolated beaches by pristine reefs, stay in safari style tents with bush showers and toilets available, and eat wonderful Indonesian cuisine. There are 3-day and 5-day sea kayak and SUP trips all year round with the best times of year for paddling between April and November.From $1800. edit

Flores spa, Jl soekarno hatta labuan bajo. Pamper yourself with a professional treatment, from reflexology to full body massage, remedial treatments and sunburn remedy. It is the favorites of all the divers. edit

Flores Komodo Expedition (Main Road across TransNusa Airline Office), Jl. Soekarno Hatta, Labuan Bajo, Flores, NTT, Indonesia, ☎+62 85239816967 [email protected], [9]. Flores Komodo Expedition organises boat cruises to the Komodo National Park to see the dragons in their natural habitat. The snorkeling tours lead to wonderful islands with white sandy beaches and colorful coral gardens. During the overland trekking and sightseeing tours in Flores one can visit Kelimutu three coloured crater lakes, vulcanos Ebolo and Inerie and all the Megalith Villages in the area of Bajawa.edit

Scuba Junkie Komodo ([email protected]), Jln Soekarno Hatta, Labuan Bajo (A dive shop on the main road in Labuan Bajo, but the resort is located an hours boat ride from Labuan Bajo.), ☎+6281236018523, [12]. A beach side eco dive resort, located a stones throw from the Komodo National Park. Just an hours boat ride from Labuan Bajo, Offering courses from Open Water through to Divemaster, as well as daily diving trips in the Komodo National Park. Two custom made 20m dive boats provide a great place to relax in-between dives. edit

XPirates Dive Camp Komodo ([email protected]), Sebayur island, Komodo (Located on Sebayur island, about one hour from Labuan Bajo by boat, next to Kanawa island.), ☎+628113985344, [13]. A the smarest way to dive in Komodo, stay at our Eco Dive Camp on deserted island, just few minutes from best Komodo dive spots. complete PADI dive centre, with experienced dive team, we offer daily dives, night dives, all PADI dive courses. all inclusive packages or a la cart ones. Office located in Jl Waemata, at flores XP. for bookings visit www.komodocamping.com. edit

No Troubles, Just Bubbles (https://www.notroublesjustbubbles.com/diving-destinations/indonesia/komodo), ☎+66891363121 ([email protected]), [14]. Booking a Komodo liveaboard diving trip is most-commonly done before your arrival in Indonesia. In fact, to get the best trip to suit your schedule, booking 1-10 months in advance is necessary. No Troubles, Just Bubbles have the widest selection of Komodo liveaboard boats & trips to choose from.edit

Scuba Liveaboards (www.scubaliveaboards.com), ([email protected]), [15]. Scuba Liveaboards website offer a range of liveaboards operation in the Komodo area. From budget to luxury liveaboards. Join and also see the famous Komodo dragons!edit

The Seven Seas Komodo Liveaboard, ☎+62 361 759588 ([email protected]), [16]. The Seven Seas gives you the opportunity to discover Komodo with one of the most experienced crews in the area. With dragons on land and a utopia underwater, you will find an array of dive sites and hiking trails to suit every level of experience. More info at www.thesevenseas.net.edit

Komodo Liveboard (Komodo Sailing), Labuan Bajo, ☎+6287855221868, [17]. 24. Komodo liveaboards are some of the most popular in Indonesia. Our Komodo Liveaboard trips offer an intense 7 Days/6 Night, 5 Day/4 night or 4 Day/3 night exploration of incredible diving. Join our Komodo liveaboard cruise for spectacular diving, scenic landscapes and amazing food. offering the best value diving and holiday experience, Great Value, and Great fun! And awesome diving, A fabulous way to explore both the local waters, and the wonders that lie within the National Parkedit

Under no circumstances drink any tap water. The tap water is not potable. Near park headquarters on Pulau Rinca, you may purchase water and soft drinks. If you go trekking into the island's interior be sure to take a large bottle of water with you. You will need it!

The Komodo Islands are made famous by the greatest lizard on the planet, the Komodo Dragon. But the Komodo chain of islands offers so much more than this. Pristine reefs, uninhabited islands, white sandy beaches, marine life second to none and land life as fascinating as the Dragon itself.

Many of the islands in the chain are either inaccessible to large boats or difficult to access. However with a sea kayak, we can travel anywhere we like. Into small grottos and bays, around rocky points and slowly above shallow reefs brimming with fish.

The Komodo Dragon has a history of attacking humans. Beware of getting too close, and if you are visiting via the park's office (which you should), ask for a guide and stick close to him. Do not wander off or do anything without his consent. Komodos may approach the guest rest area during daily feeding time, but in this time, find a building (which are usually elevated) and stay clear from the railings. Komodos can and will jump to obtain food if necessary. Park rangers are usually present at these events and will deflect any Komodos trying to get in (which they can do).

You may be given a large pole with a split on the end, forming a "Y" shape. This can be used as a walking pole or for moving things on your path - however, if wild animals threaten, it can be used as a last form of defense (despite being hardly useful against Komodos). Overall, try keeping a watchful eye and steer clear of any wildlife.

Komodos are extremely dangerous if close enough. They can run faster than humans (and accelerate very quickly), so best not approach if necessary. Jumping into water (as Komodos are often found near the beach too) doesn't help either, as they can swim faster than humans, can dive, and can also swim against strong currents (in fact, sometimes Komodos are found on neighboring islands, suspected of swimming there).

Zoologists formerly believed that the main problem was the dragon's diseased-filled bite from the rampant bacteria residing in their mouth. More recently theories have been put forward that the Komodo Dragon is actually venomous, and that the biggest problem when bitten is shock and massive blood loss due to the ferocity of the bite. Whichever, getting bitten is not a good thing.

The absence of crocodiles on Komodo Island (due in part to a lack of suitable habitat) leave the Komodo Dragons with no natural predators.

Younger Komodos may live in trees. While not as dangerous as their parents, they can still jump off suddenly and cause panic. Snakes, monitor lizards, and other animals are also present and may cause minor problems.

Saltwater Crocodiles are not present on Komodo Island but they may be present on the surrounding islands and in the ocean. Any area with estuaries and river mouths should permit extra caution as, although they are technically not present on Komodo, the islands ARE within the species natural range. It was once believed by Indonesian natives that monitor lizards (including the Komodo dragon) were capable of warning humans of a crocodile's presence.

Bali - the Island of the Gods is two hour's flying time away and is a popular combination trip with Komodo.

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